Antoine Dupont makes Six Nations return for France's opener against Wales

Dupont links up with Toulouse colleague Romain Ntamack as his half-back partner, and there is a start for exciting Pau wing Theo Attissogbe for the injured Damian Penaud

France captain Antoine Dupont during the launch of the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship at Spazio Field. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Antoine Dupont will make his Six Nations return when he leads France in Friday's tournament opener against Wales.

The star scrum-half missed last year's Six Nations to concentrate on Olympics preparation with the France sevens squad, and he played a key role in them winning gold on home soil.

Dupont links up with Toulouse colleague Romain Ntamack as his half-back partner, and there is a start for Pau wing Theo Attissogbe.

Attissogbe, who wins his fourth cap, takes over from an injured Damian Penaud, while another injury absentee - lock Thibaud Flament - is replaced by Alexandre Roumat.

France have won their last six games against Wales, and they host a team without a Test victory since beating Georgia during the 2023 World Cup.

Wales have been boosted by the return of wing Josh Adams, fullback Liam Williams and lock Dafydd Jenkins for their Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Friday, with Ben Thomas to lead the backline from the flyhalf position.

The experienced Adams and Williams missed much of last season with injury as Wales seek to end a dismal team record run of 12 defeats in a row dating back to the 2023 Rugby World Cup that has put coach Warren Gatland’s position under the spotlight.

Wing Tom Rogers makes up the remainder of the back three, with Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins the centre-pairing.

Scrum half Tomos Williams will be alongside Thomas, the latter picked due to an injury to Sam Costelow and the desire to look at other options beyond Gareth Anscombe.

The side will be captained by Jac Morgan, who has James Botham and number eight Aaron Wainwright with him at the back of the scrum.

Will Rowlands and Jenkins are the lock pairing and hooker Evan Lloyd is joined by props Gareth Thomas and Henry Thomas in the front row.

"We’re excited for the challenge on Friday. The Six Nations is the best rugby competition in the world," Gatland said. "Every game is a big occasion. We want to go out there, embrace that and start our championship well."

FRANCE: T Ramos (Toulouse), T Attissogbe (Pau), P-L Barassi (Toulouse), Y Moefana (Bordeaux Bègles), L Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Bègles), R Ntamack Toulouse), A Dupint (Toulouse);  J-B Gros (Toulon), P Mauvaka (Toulouse), U Atonio (La Rochelle); A Roumat (Toulouse), E Meafou (Toulouse); F Croi (Toulouse), P Boudehent (La Rochelle), G Alldritt (La Rochelle).

Replacements: J Marchand (Toulouse), C Baille (Toulouse), G-H Colombe (La Rochelle), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Mickaël Guillar (Lyon), Oscar Jégou (La Rochelle), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Émilien Gailleton (Pau).

WALES: L Williams (Saracens); T Rogers (Scarlets), N Tompkins (Saracens), O Watkin (Ospreys), J Adams (Cardiff); B Thomas (Cardiff), T Williams (Gloucester); G Thomas (Ospreys), E Lloyd (Cardiff), H Thomas (Scarlets), W Rowlands (Racing 92), D Jenkins (Exeter), J Botham (Cardiff), J Morgan (Ospreys, capt), A Wainwright (Dragons).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), N Smith (Leicester), K Assiratti (Cardiff), F Thomas (Gloucester), T Reffell (Leicester), R Williams (Dragons), D Edwards (Ospreys), B Murray (Scarlets).